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ISIS’s “Dark/Deep” Web Penetrated By Israeli Intel Cyberjocks: What Does This Mean? Commentary By Adina Kutnicki

SOME of us who operate within a specialized arena of investigative journalism, with an emphasis on militant Islamic jihad, have certain intersections in common. While a segment are particularly adept in the ins and outs of computer technology, others – not so much. No matter.

IN this regard, those of us who are deficient in the tech domain make up for this deficit by surrounding ourselves with experts who are highly adept. In other words, what better combination is there than a “marriage” of sorts between one who is steeped in the hydras of (Sunni/Shia) jihadi terror; whose megaphone knows no bounds, and is more than willing to expose said underbelly in analytical fashion but with all due deliberation and caution? Trust. Effectively, think of this arrangement, if you will, as a force multiplier, even if its basis appears too murky to begin with.

ALAS, various contacts – developed and nurtured over time – are more than willing to share delicate matters, be they found through HUMINT (human intelligence) assets or via the deep/dark web, for the greater good. Understood?

SO it is with this quasi understanding in mind that the following Israeli hack into ISIS should come into focus. Mind you, view it as a mental exercise, as to what kind of tidbits may drop into this particular lap. And it is usually a balancing act between what can be revealed, and what must stay hidden until further notice. Again, this is where the trust factor comes into play.

An Israeli cyber intelligence company claims it has hacked ISIS communications and learned about the group’s plans to attack U.S. air bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Intsights, which is run by former Israel Defense Forces intelligence officers and based in Herzliya, said Wednesday it had hacked the forum on which ISIS operatives publish terror attack plans, Channel 10 reported.
According to Intsights, ISIS uploads potential targets to the forum, hosted through the Telegram encrypted messaging app. Some targets listed there, such as the church in Normandy, France where a priest was murdered on July 26, have been attacked after appearing on the site.

“Telegram is completely encrypted and there’s no fear that someone will intercept the messages and understand what you wrote,” Intsight co-founder Alon Arvatz told Channel 10.

The Intsight team did not say how it managed to hack into the group.
Arvatz said that a map uploaded to the ISIS’ Telegram forum identifies air force bases in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other Western European countries, as well as Israeli air force bases.

KNOW this: what is uncovered in this arena within the deep/dark underbelly of the web, more often than not, is rarely publicized in specific detail. Inherently, while a head’s up may be given that penetration was made, intelligence cyber jocks would never compromise operational duties for momentary high-fives.